Acharya Prashant responds to a question about identifying one's true self beyond the various roles and identities one assumes in life, and what consciousness truly is. He begins by defining consciousness as that which is making the questioner ask the question, that which is hearing and will respond. It is that without which the world itself does not exist. He describes the various identities we carry, such as being a daughter or a student, as shallow things. While these identities are necessary for practical life, like needing an ID card to enter an examination hall or a voter ID to cast a vote, they should not be taken as the ultimate reality. The problem arises when these identities are allowed to encroach upon the pure sanctum sanctorum of one's life. He explains that we constantly replace one identity with another, never allowing for a pure and free space within that is independent of all identities. This constant shifting of roles is an attempt to escape an inner void. This void is not something to be dismissed; it is a real and urgent cry for help, indicating that something needs to be done. However, because we are not spiritually educated, we do not know what we truly want. Consequently, we fall for any random, appealing thing that presents itself to fill this void. This is how most of our life's decisions—regarding courses, jobs, partners, and even clothes—are made. We are essentially groping in the dark, driven by a restlessness we don't understand. Acharya Prashant advises that living with this void is far better than filling it with unworthy things. When one learns to honor the void without fear or impatience, a special kind of freedom emerges. By investigating the worthiness of the options the world offers to fill this void, one discovers that most of them are false. This realization reduces the dislike for the void. Being content and even blissful in the void allows one to relate to the world from a position of strength, without neediness, desperation, or weakness. This leads to healthy relationships and the ability to exercise compassion. Spirituality, particularly Vedanta, is the attempt to bring dignity to a life that is otherwise buffeted by situational forces. It is about living a life of power and sovereignty, free from the compulsion to constantly remember freedom itself.